CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwire) -- 05/08/12 -- 2012 National Restaurant Association Show Booth 7813 -- Heartland Payment Systems (NYSE: HPY), one of the nation's largest payments processors, today announced that it has launched SmartLink for Restaurants. A managed network service that provides secure, high-speed transport of card transaction data and back office information, SmartLink for Restaurants allows restaurateurs to spend less time managing their networks and more time concentrating on the success of their business.
SmartLink for Restaurants is designed to let restaurateurs break free of IT chores and issues so they can focus on customers. By segmenting electronic payment transactions from other network traffic, SmartLink helps ensure PCI compliance while allowing for rapid implementation of other critical applications that require broadband connectivity. Additionally, SmartLink allows for the consolidation of multiple phone and Internet lines, which can often save the operator telecommunications costs by bringing the services under a single Heartland umbrella.
In addition to consolidating multiple communication lines to one high-speed connection, SmartLink for Restaurants provides restaurateurs with secure, monitored network communication for freezer temp monitoring, Voice over IP, back-office systems, digital signs, email and managed Wi-Fi Internet access. It also segments credit/debit/prepaid card transactions from other network traffic to meet Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) requirements.
"From the simplest secure connection at the point-of-sale (POS) to a fully managed solution that supports applications at multiple locations, SmartLink streamlines networked services, maximizes network connectivity, reduces costs and enhances operational efficiency by meeting the network needs of any sized restaurant operation," said Jan Rose, alliance manager of SmartLink restaurant client network solutions for Heartland Payment Systems.
Concurrent with the launch, Heartland has completed the first two SmartLink installations at Dallas-based Maguire's and Maximo restaurants, which are owned and operated by internationally recognized restaurateur Mark Maguire. "As an independent restaurateur, my customers expect me to be on the floor and at the door taking care of business, and that's where I need to be," said Maguire, former president of the Dallas Restaurant Association and past recipient of the Dallas Restaurateur of the Year award. "I would easily waste an hour or two daily with networking and connectivity issues. It's been smooth sailing since SmartLink was installed, as I've done nothing but spend time with my customers. It's completely changed the way I operate."
Michael Youngkin, Heartland's director of client network solutions, concluded, "With more than 12,000 SmartLink installations online in the petro/convenience store market, Heartland is now bringing our managed network solution expertise to the restaurant industry. SmartLink provides a perfect synergy between communications and card processing to make it easier for restaurateurs to run their establishments."
Heartland is one of the largest payments processors in the restaurant industry, with more than 60,000 restaurants using Heartland's comprehensive suite of products and services, including secure card processing, mobile payments, payroll services, loyalty marketing and SmartLink.
About Heartland Payment Systems
Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), the sixth largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, gift marketing and loyalty programs, payroll and related business solutions to more than 250,000 business locations nationwide. A FORTUNE 1000 company, Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. The company is also a leader in the development of end-to-end encryption technology designed to protect cardholder data, rendering it useless to cybercriminals. For more detailed information, visit www.HeartlandPaymentSystems.com or follow the company on Twitter @HeartlandHPY and Facebook at facebook.com/HeartlandHPY.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature which represent our management's beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to many factors, including risks and additional factors that are described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.
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Media Contacts:
Michael J. LaCosta
Director of Public Relations
Heartland Payment Systems
1-888-798-3131, ex. 2245
michael.lacosta@e-hps.com
Pamela Caruolo
Vault Communications
610-455-2746
pcaruolo@vaultcommunications.com
